My cat just had kittens. What are these orange bedding stains?

Bleeding for up to 48 hours post-labor is normal in cats, and should lessen over that 48 hour period. However, if you are seeing signs of illness or the discharge is not decreasing over time, it is best to seek vet care to rule out any more serious issues causing it. Yellow stuff out of the kitten's bottom is likely their first stool called the meconium, and is usually passed after they are born and start to nurse. This is normal, and the momma cat should clean it and herself up. However if she needs help, a warm wet washcloth can be used to help keep mom and babies clean. Again, if you see any signs of illness, the babies don't seem to want to nurse, are weak, or aren't growing, or the mother seems ill, a vet exam is always best.

It is not uncommon for kittens to have intestinal parasites. This can cause inflammation and soft stool. Monitor the litter box and submit a stool sample to your vet if Lucy has soft stool or is straining to defecate. She may need to be dewormed. This should be repeated in 3-4 weeks to confirm clearance of any intestinal parasites.

It looks like the one kitten may have a little diarrhea, which isn’t too concerning as long as the kittens are nursing well, gaining weight, and the stools form up a bit in a day or two. The black hard stool can be normal for the first stool passed, but I would keep a close eye on momma to make sure she is cleaning the kittens well. One of the best ways to make sure all kittens are thriving is to weigh them daily using a gram scale - they should gain every day.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diarrhea can be observed with conditions such as colitis, gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, intestinal parasites, among many other possibilities. They probably got it from the mother. I recommend that you have them evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They may choose to check for parasites and to start medications for diarrhea depending on the results. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

They are all so cute! If the stool is firm and otherwise normal, the color could be a natural variation, but it can also indicate a bacterial infection. If the stool is loose (like diarrhea), then I would suspect there could be a bacterial infection. To be safe, I would take Angel and kittens into the vet now for a check up. Bring a stool sample for the vet to examine. Best of luck.

Poor Venus! The most common cause of loose yellow or orange-colored stool in a kitten this age would be intestinal parasites. I would recommend first having her examined by a vet - he/she can take a fecal sample and check it under a microscope for parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, or coccidia. If any problems are found, they can also prescribe appropriate medication to treat the issue. In the meantime, you can try feeding her a bland diet of plain boiled chicken or chicken-flavored baby food to help settle her stomach until you are able to get her in to see the vet.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is not unusual for animals to have some diarrhea after giving birth. As long as she continues to eat well, this should slowly resolve over the course of the next 3-4 days. If it does not, or if Naughtt develops any other unusual clinical signs, I recommend having her seen by a veterinarian, as an unrelated issue may be present. I hope this is helpful!